KazAlkemi

Camp Lava Lake

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Ezekiel Kel

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Location: Camp Lava Lake
Skills:

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Zeke was still shirtless. He watched his twin sister and boyfriend when it dawned on him. And even though it was hot out, he felt oddly exposed. Like he was being watched. Zeke looked around. A slight breeze shifted through the trees' leaves, creating a comforting rustle and a reprieve from the day's intense heat. Still, Zeke shivered and collected a shirt from his bag.

Dressed once more, Zeke took the path down to the campfire. The area was simple with a few log benches rising on a hill. The lake was visible through the breaks in the trees, and the fire pit was well-sized and well-placed. Zeke moved around, cleaning up branches and rocks, and made note of some of the rougher-looking benches before he sat down on one and watched the trees.

He shut his eyes and picked up the guitar he brought with him. Memories of Nancy’s first seizure flashed behind his closed eyes. The fear, the confusion. The doctor's appointments, his mother crying, the kitchen light still on at two in the morning, while she stressed about the bills. The anxiety grew in Zeke as his fingers moved rapidly along the strings. Until he just stopped. Zeke opened his eyes, the sudden change blinding for a moment. Slowly, the trees came into view. And then the clouds, the lake, the feel of the bench underneath and the crunch of gravel as Zeke adjusted his feet. And the music started again, slower this time. A breathing space.

Music had come easily to Zeke, as if it were an extension of him. He always wondered if his dad had some sort of talent for it. He knew his mother loved music and dance, but she rarely talked about his father. Growing up, it had bothered Zeke. There were just some things he wanted his father to tell him, rather than an older cousin or friends from school. Usually, because they were wrong. And there was only so much one could learn from reading a book.

Zeke set his guitar aside after playing a few more songs, including ones he had written with Nancy. It was lethargic in a way, taking a moment away from the others to process and just be Zeke. It was a reminder of what was important and what he was working towards. And somehow, he was adding another element to that goal in the form of messy black hair and a cheeky smile. Zeke grinned, his mood shifting and stood. He finished making busy work around the campfire area before he grabbed his guitar and headed back to the main house for supper.

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: The Neverish, Strange Academy
Grimore: Find Familiar;
Skills:

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Fear sank its claws deep into Annika as she ran, refusing to give up, but terrified. She was alone. No one was coming for her. Her father wasn’t here to rescue her this time. Never had she felt the pull towards her ancestors so strongly. The ones who had been eliminated. Their stories... wiped from the planet all because of the whim of man. A sob broke from her burning throat before it turned into a cry.

Annika squeezed her eyes shut from the bombardment of light and colour. The smell of earth and growing things greeted her shortly after, grounding her as nothing else could. That is, until she felt the familiar weight and warmth of a shadowy friend. Annika opened her eyes, blinking back tears as she forced herself to adjust.

”Nochella, thank the stars.” She squeezed her familiar close until yowls of protest demanded she slacken her hold.

Once her heart slowed, Annika took in the scene around her. She was surrounded by giant red woods, a welcome sight after so much nothingness and emptiness. Annika never thought she feared the dark, but now she wasn’t so certain. She took a shaky step forward, scared that if she moved, she would be lost all over again.

The smell of food made her stomach grumble. Nochella jumped from her arms and made a beeline for the cottage Annika spotted in the distance.

”Noch! Get back here!” Annika moved to chase after her cat when Rohan appeared and then Finley, seemingly out of the air itself.

”Whe—” Rohan’s harsh command to be quiet froze the word in her throat. She scanned his body, noticing how on edge the mage was. Great. Now the forest, normally her safe haven, was a dangerous place. Just where in the hell had the Neverish taken them?

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Location: Mikkail’s Sitting Room, Strange Academy
Grimore: Predatory Instinct; Dragonic Morphing; Hunter’s Mark
Skills: History
Fit

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Cal wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Barty and Connie entered. His attention had remained focused on slowing Cassie’s bleeding and not letting the book out of his sight. As he stared intently at the cause of all this mayhem, Cal placed his Hunter’s Mark on it. He didn’t plan on letting it go to anyone else after this, but should it mysteriously disappear, he would be able to track it.

Cal nearly pushed back on Connie and Barty when they took over Cassie’s care. She had been hurt because of a request he made of her. He didn’t trust many others with looking after her because of it, but Connie was experienced, and Barty was relatively calm.

Letting his bloodied jacket drop to the floor, Cal walked over to the journal and slipped it into the back pocket of his pants. His pain suddenly vanished, but he paid it no mind as he walked over to Willow and bent down in front of her.

”It is alright, little one. I will end this. They will not hunt you or us any longer.” He kissed her forehead before he stood and turned his draconic eyes on Nicholas.

”I believe whatever strangeness befell Kramer is trapped in this journal. Whether it is Kramer’s own deranged soul or another, I do not know. But I intend to find out, get answers and then kill it. Can you manage here?” Cal gestured to the chaos of the room and the only other two members of their coven. While he was indisposed, he would rely on Nicholas to keep the others safe. Perhaps a task would help remove the wild look of fear from Nicky’s eyes.

Château de La Lune

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Rihannon Linx

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Location: Bar
Skills: N/A
Fit

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Rhiannon smirked. Part of them, a small part, wanted to see Sam’s dancing skills in action. A larger part wanted to stay as far away from that as possible. Rhiannon watched Lena walking away, wishing they had a few more minutes to ask a couple more questions. Hopefully, the others found something productive.

”Well, we can chat in the hall or one of our rooms then,” Rhiannon said, standing. They had to make their way upstairs anyway to start getting ready for whatever the hell this supper and slideshow was about to present to all of them.

Testing well everything!

Why have I been called here? Are gay things happening? *Puts on rainbow sunglasses*

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: First Gate —> The Neverish, Strange Academy
Grimore: Moonbeam
Skills:

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Unease filtered through Annika. Her professor seemed cavalier about a student being absent from an important class. They had constructed their tether the day before, so it should hold, but it didn’t feel right to Annika not to check on Franklin first. And it didn’t help the anxious feeling Annika had when her other two coven mates seemed completely unconcerned about the state of their fourth member. Annika crossed her arms, frowning as the other two walked through the gate without a care in the world.

She glanced back at the door, torn about just leaving to find Franklin or following through with her task. She was just deciding that the other two would be fine without her when she felt something familiar brush up against her skin. Annika turned her head to see the shadows of the gateway reaching out to greet her, beckoning her closer.

Curiosity overwhelmed Annika, and she stepped forward, wanting to know this familiar yet new friend.

Nothingness. Darkness. A opressive emptiness met Annika. She sucked in a breath; the pressure of that nothingness settled fully on her shoulders. However, Annika wasn’t afraid. She was just aware. Aware of that darkness. Aware of that nothingness around her. She was completely alone. In fact, she couldn’t feel the presence of anyone or anything else around her.

Okay, perhaps she was slightly worried now. The others had walked in before her; they should be here, no? Unless the gate dropped her off somewhere else.

That was nothing new for Annika. There was one time her father had dropped her off on some world in some random timeline and told her to use the portals and shadows to bring herself home, and then he was gone. A week had passed before she returned home to find her father sitting in his favourite chair, and reading a large tome with Nochella curled by the fire. He had looked at her when she returned and smiled in that strange way before speaking.

”Well?”

Annika had screamed at him before she stomped away. A lesson. One, she supposed, she could implement now.

”Nochella?” She attempted to call her familiar, knowing she would come this time. Annika looked down, into the void of nothingness for that comforting sensation Nochella always brought. But there was nothing. Instead, Annika feels a lazy irritation from being woken, followed by confusion, panic, and then silence.

Now, Annika was properly concerned.

She raised her hand in front of her, unable to comprehend where it was even though it was in front of her face, and attempted to call the Moon to her. Memories of bending Mother Moon’s light the first time came back to her. The softness she had felt from that light, the cold comfort it brought. All of these thoughts wove together to summon Her, and yet nothing occurred.

Annika felt cold and distant, like nothing would ever answer her again. Like she was cut off not only from her companions but also from her magic—the very earth she had reclaimed not so long ago.

And then she started running. Running until it hurt to breathe.

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Location: Mikkail’s Sitting Room, Strange Academy
Grimore: Predatory Instinct; Dragonic Morphing
Skills:
Fit

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Cassie’s willingness to try was all that Cal could have asked for. If, in the end, she changed her mind, Cal would give it another go. He pulled the journal out of his bag and set it on the table.

”Good morning, little one,” Cal greeted, when Willow neared. He set some of the other texts and notebooks they had gotten from the library while Willow spoke. He smiled, although there was a shade of concern reflected in his eyes. ”Of course.”

He could only assume it had something to do with the egg she was supposed to crack this morning. Cal hoped it was good news, but Willow probably wouldn’t want to speak with him privately if it was.

Cal remained in quiet contemplation while Nicky explained to Cassie what they had both seen. He raised an eyebrow in silent question when Nick complimented Cal. Oh, really? Well, that called for a little thank you later, Cal thought.

Once Cassie was given the gist of the information, Cal smiled encouragingly as she reached for the journal. Cal wasn’t exactly sure what was going to happen when Cassie touched the journal. Truthfully, he assumed the girl would simply try to read it, not open her magic to it. Perhaps Cal should have been clearer.

As soon as Cassie’s magic poured into the journal, Cal knew something was wrong. He took a step forward to try to engage Cassi when instinct took over. Cal shifted aside just in time to avoid shards of glass from impaling his eye, but they still managed to slice open his cheek.

More Ick

Blood poured down the side of Cal’s face, instantly soaking the collar of his shirt and jacket.

His eyes widened from the shock of it and from Cassie losing her hand.

Ick Again

Cal pulled off his jacket and quickly went to Cassie’s side, wrapping her wrist to try and staunch the blood flow. If they didn’t get her to a healer soon, she would likely bleed out.

Cal looked behind him, taking in the other two when something brushed up against his consciousness. Cal’s eyes shifted to the iridescent, serpent-like eyes of his dragon.

”We’re not alone,” Cal told Nicky, all warmth and tenderness in his voice gone.

Cal took in the large shard that had lodged itself in the blackboard behind Nick. If he hadn’t moved… A low growl reverberated through Cal. ”We’re being hunted.”

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: Dungeons —> Lab IX —> Dorm —> First Gate, Strange Academy
Grimore:
Skills:

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Annika stepped into the lab behind Franklin and the others. She looked around the circular room, taking in the various instruments and the mad-scientist-like quality of the space. The body in the middle of the room left her feeling a little unsettled. As they walked closer, Annika rubbed her arms, peering at the work Franklin had done so far. After a moment, she stepped back, joining Rohan.

”Your lab is more inviting than this,” she informed him. It almost felt as if they lingered for too long, Franklin would turn his experimentation on them.

Once Franklin explained what he would be doing, they didn’t linger long. After saying good night to Rohan, she walked back to the dorms with Jake and Cassie, saying good night to them before retiring to her room. Alone. Jack wanted to stay with Cassie, which didn’t bother Annika. She was perfectly used to being on her own.

Annika remained awake for a while, not ready for sleep to claim her. After writing out her day, recapping the class lessons and the head, Annika flipped through her father’s journals. They were always a comfort to her, and she was hoping she might come across something that would help her with Sariel’s task.

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While Sariel spoke about the day’s task, Annika’s eyes kept flitting about. Frankie had never come back to the dorm last night, and although her roommate did seem the type to stay in his lab and never sleep, the fact that he wasn’t here was now starting to get to her.

Especially when it seemed like Sariel didn’t care. And Rohan said they were set to go. Annika looked at him and frowned.

”Frankie isn’t here. And more importantly, he never came back to the dorm. What if something happened?” Annika looked back, hoping to see Franklin emerging from whatever nighttime experiment he had gotten caught up in.

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Location: Library —> Outside Mikkail’s Sitting Room, Strange Academy
Grimore:
Skills:
Fit

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Callaghan stared at the shut journal. Eyes. Eyes. Seven pairs. A thought occurred to him at the same time it did for Nicky. But just as fast as it came, it was gone. Cal stared blankly at the journal. What had him so concerned about seeing eyes in an old man’s journal? Surely they had just been drawings. Cal frowned. No. There had been something more. The thought scratched away at his brain, not quite letting go, but not yielding anything either.

Cal huffed and pushed back from the table. ”Ah, that is unfortunate. A death so soon in the school year isn’t the best omen.” As he started to gather the books back up, Cal paused to look at the journal once more. Perhaps another peek…

Nick’s mention of Willow pulled his focus back. Cal smiled at the witch, shaking his head. ”No, I’ll be more than fine. Don’t have too much fun without me,” Cal teased and waved the witch off.

Once he finished gathering his books, Cal made a stop at his dorm, dropping off everything before preparing Willow’s tea and bringing it to her. He lingered while she drank it, making sure she felt its calming effect before returning to his dorm to find a new addition. Cal looked at Jake, settled with Cassie, before he looked at Rohan questioningly.

Information for another time.

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You are a good man, Callaghan. I do hope you find a way to break the cycles of history.

The professor’s words from the previous day continued to linger with Cal. Even while he showered. Even while he ate. Even when he handed Cassie the journal as they walked to Professor Mikkail’s sitting room.

It had been a mission his own family had tasked him with. A sort of break, but a preservation as well. However, with the evening’s revelation, Cal was beginning to wonder if some tasks were more important than others.

Callaghan explained to Cassie what had occurred the night before. Between him, Nick, and Willow, trying to look at the journal, not one of them had produced any real results. ”So, Nick and I, our theory anyway, is that your chaos magic might help present us with at least a better direction if you look over the journal. Of course, we won’t force you if you don’t want to. I’m willing to give it another go, but I know Willow is against looking again after her severe reaction.”

Cal stopped outside Professor Mikkail’s sitting room door, slipping his hands into his jeans' pockets. His clothes were much more casual today, but still well planned and thought out to complement his body type and colouring. The academy was always a little drafty, Cal found, so he often liked to layer with a jacket or sweater and a long-sleeve shirt. Besides, it was always best for a gentleman to have a jacket on hand to offer to someone who was feeling the chill.

✨ Under Black Stars ✨

Annika's eyes moved rapidly, following the words as they changed and disappeared with each flip of the page. Whatever this book was, it was incredible, and even as the words started to fade, the golden lettering remained with Annika. Whoever wrote this had either ventured into the Everdark or was attempting to capture her father's retellings of his home.

The pictures showed a younger Jack. A Jack that looked carefree, happy. Annika touched the photo, wishing she could have known that version of her father.

Annika's attention drifted to the second man in the photo. Whoever they were, they seemed to make Jack happy. A friend maybe? Or a lover? Annika shuddered. Her father never looked for anyone whenever they left home. At least, no one who looked like this person in the photo. There were some people, like Uncle Max, but Jack mostly took Annika from the Everdark for shopping, errands, or a learning expedition of some kind through the various timelines.

"Who are you?" Annika questioned.

Château de La Lune

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Rihannon Linx

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Location: Bar
Skills: N/A
Fit

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Lawrence did have a temper; there was no denying that, but a head injury that made it worse? By the sounds of it, Lawrence had been an ass well before that. Rhiannon sat down after Sam, pondering the PDF and Lena’s tale. ”It seems this family has a lot of buried secrets. I wonder how many are buried here,” Rhi said, glancing pointedly at Ralph and Sam. They found Miguel buried on the property. Who’s to say there weren’t others? Of course, a body from 1995 would be very much a skeleton now.

Rhi rested their head in their hand. It seemed Lena had easy access to the information about, well, all of them. How much information did her laptop contain exactly? Rhiannon wouldn’t call themselves a hacking genius, but they could hold their own. Of course, they didn’t have access to a computer right now.

The easiest question would be to ask who nominated Renee. If it were any family member, they could confront them. Rhi glanced at Lena.

”Did any of the nominees have any really juicy secrets? Like Sam here? I bet he dances around his bedroom in lingerie, right?”

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Location: California
Magic Items:

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Luna eyed the shadows warily. She had a healthy aversion to shadow magic, but it seemed the boy was helping. Chase was growing on her. Luna smiled and nodded appreciatively before turning to look back at Andy, grinning.

”I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, stepping closer. Luna hadn’t kept in contact with the MU after she left. She knew they had gotten out, but where they were or what they were doing had remained a mystery to her. It had been better that way. But now it seemed like Luna was being given a second chance.

Luna opened her mouth to ask another question when a vision slammed into her mind. She clutched her head, stumbling back as flashes of the other teenagers entered her head. Each one, a representative of a tarot card. And the White Witch…Saturnyne.

It looked like Luna would have to share her cards with the others and give them a lesson on tarot. She looked around, odd that she was found outside a fortune-teller's tent at a carnival. Luna frowned. She hated coincidences. And being used as someone else’s pawn.

Andy spoke up, moving the conversation along. Luna would share her thoughts on the cards later.

”Yes…Interesting how things like that work, isn’t it… What about you? How old are you now? You’ve barely aged…Are you in touch with the others?” Luna looked back at the others. Didn’t Andy say, or did someone say, that James was a dad? Which kid was it again?

”As for me, have you heard or been taught anything of the Otherworld?”

Camp Lava Lake

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Ezekiel Kel

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Location: Camp Lava Lake
Skills:

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Zeke twitched. He didn’t do well with being told no or being told to back off. He didn’t even really register Demetri until the raven-haired man stepped closer to him, filling his view completely. Zeke met Demetri’s eyes, narrowing them until his words sank in. He looked back at Nancy, seeing the annoyance on her face. He deflated, rubbing the back of his neck.

”Ya…true. Today has been a lot, I guess. With hiking and cleaning and the heat. But maybe you should take a little bit of a break? You did say you were hungry and thirsty,” Zeke reminded Nancy, smiling sheepishly at his sister.

”Wait. What? What happens when the lake bubbles?” Zeke whipped his head back, staring Demetri down.